Graduate Petition for Course Drop/Semester Withdrawal

Graduate students must use this online petition to request a course or semester withdrawal either during the semester after the drop deadline or for semesters previously completed (i.e. a retroactive withdrawal). 

Note: Please do not use Safari when filling in this form. To ensure proper signature routing, indicate if you are an international student, receiving financial aid, and/or enrolled in a special session program. Please be prepared to upload your personal statement, additional required documentation and/or the Healthcare Provider Verification of Medical Condition Form (if needed). Fill in your signature using your mouse or touchpad.

What to Know Before Filling Out the Petition 

During the semester in which the student is enrolled, CGS will approve most late withdrawal petitions after the drop deadline for legitimate reasons (e.g. physical/mental health issues, job conflicts, financial issues, family responsibilities, changes in academic plans.) These reasons should be explained in a personal statement. We may request documentation of the reason to support the request, but this is not required in all situations.

Retroactive withdrawals (dropping a course or semester following a completed semester) will almost always require documentation of the reason. We will consider single course withdrawals as well as full semester withdrawals.

For documentation, please be prepared to submit:

  1. Presentation of a compelling personal statement indicating why this course withdrawal should be approved following the course drop deadline and was beyond the student’s control. If your reason is health-related, you do not have to disclose specific details; however, you must submit a completed Healthcare Medical Provider form (see below)
  2. Attached documentation (preferably on letterhead with contacts for verification):
    1. Health (physical and mental): Healthcare Medical Provider form [pdf]
    2. Work related: Memo or letter from employer confirming circumstances
    3. Personal Hardship: Any appropriate supporting documentationFor petitions for retroactive withdrawal after a semester is over

Complete a Withdrawal Form

For more information, please contact graduate-studies@sjsu.edu.